A question for the non-US X-Markers...

[Jock Scot]

Oh well, Ali, if you are leading the tour, then I suppose I could pop along!

[toadinakilt]

Don't forget to See Rock City...

[ThistleDown]

There's a garden in Phoenix?

hmm.. How did I miss that I wonder?


And why do I feel the need to warn everyone against visiting Hollywood? Maybe because it's dirty and disappointing and small, and one may find him or herself wishing they had been able to see it in its heyday in the 1930's

We have wonderful canyons in Utah though-- I'd be happy to lead a tour

You missed something really worthwhile, Ali. The garden covers about 15-20 ha, I believe, and has some superb collections of cacti, in particular. I'm not a fan of desert plants, but this garden was a delight for other reasons.

In a tour of gardens of America the Lan Su classical Chinese garden in Portland, Oregon, would in itself be reason enough to visit that city (but only one of a million reasons to visit Oregon, mind you).

[Bugbear]

You missed something really worthwhile, Ali. The garden covers about 15-20 ha, I believe, and has some superb collections of cacti, in particular. I'm not a fan of desert plants, but this garden was a delight for other reasons. ...

Are you going to tell us those other reasons, ThistleDown.

There is also the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on the other side of the valley, not that it should be on the list.

[ThistleDown]

Are you going to tell us those other reasons, ThistleDown.

Now now, Ted, some things must remain private even amongst the best of friends

[ali8780]

Are you going to tell us those other reasons, ThistleDown.

I have to admit you piqued my curiosity as well Rex

As for Oregon, I'll whole heartedly agree, I love that coast. I'll have to visit those gardens, they sound amazing.

Jock:

Hurray!! I was hoping you'd count me among the friends you'd like to visit

Come on over, you won't be disappointed. We have a guest room and I'll pull out our nicest towels for you. I may even be persuaded to cook, and you'll have to be persuaded to eat it for sure

[ForresterModern]

Having just moved from the southwest I can recommend a few days in the Las Vegas area, do your gambling thing but also get some time in Ron's part of the world and go visit the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. Breathtakingly spectacular, and nothing really like these areas in the whole world.

jeff

[BoldHighlander]

And why do I feel the need to warn everyone against visiting Hollywood? Maybe because it's dirty and disappointing and small, and one may find him or herself wishing they had been able to see it in its heyday in the 1930's

Ah, but the place really comes alive after the sun goes down!
(...memories of running around there with my punk rock mates back in the early 80's )

[Bugbear]

Having just moved from the southwest I can recommend a few days in the Las Vegas area, do your gambling thing but also get some time in Ron's part of the world and go visit the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. Breathtakingly spectacular, and nothing really like these areas in the whole world.

jeff

There's also some very interesting places in the Las Vegas, New Mexico area...

[Detroitpete]

Not sure if I should post here or not, since my thought is that the OP was thinking more in terms of those not from the states and where they'd like to visit.

But if time and money were of no object and I could lead a tour of the US, I think I'd like to show you:

Washington D.C.: Not for any particular political reason, but so you could see some amazing museums and the historical sights that so recently were the places from which those with a dream helped stitch together a nation.

Our former 'rustbelt' cities: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit. So you can see that we still keep reinventing ourselves from cities that were the backbone of manufacturing and now are becoming more cosmopolitan, but still with a bit of broad-shouldered, plain-speaking honesty to them.

Appalacia: The entire spine of theses mountatins to the Smokeys. What amazing vistas. What peaceful streams. The dawn breaking over a ridgeline with the scent of pine is something that will stay with you.

New Orleans: To show you that despite hardships, we still love our food, drink and merryment.

Texas Panhandle: You need to stand out on a scrub field and see nothing in every direction. It makes one truly humble.

The Rockies and Bad Lands: Haunting and comforting. The scale of these sights are again humbling.

San Francisco: A great walkable city with some of the best food anywhere.

And for my own homeland...I'd show you the deep forests and cool running trout streams of northern Michigan. Sitting on a rock watching otter take your trout. A red-tailed hawk circling above. Deer in the woods behind you. Pulling walleye into the boat as we fish our great lakes.

We'd stay until the first snow so you could hear how quiet but still how alive the woods are.

From history and culture, to natural beauty, to hussle and bussle and back to simple things like hay cutting in August and dinner with friends.

That's a tour I'd like to plan for you.